A headmaster of a government-backed madrassa was lynched in Manipur earlier this week over allegations that he stole a calf.
The case is a stark reminder of the lynching of Mohammad Akhlaq in Dadri a few weeks ago.
Now, the family members of the deceased, Md Hasmad Ali, have spoken up and claimed that the death may have been the result of personal enmity as well as the stereotyping of Muslims.
It’s a cold blooded murder because of some land dispute. The murderers shift the blame on another community and take advantage of the (sensitive) functioning of the society.Riyaz Ali, Hasmad’s Elder Son
Riyaz blames his father’s death on a personal land dispute with his neighbour Mohammad Amu, and Amu’s brother.
According to family members, Amu took advantage of the tenuous relations between communities and the bias against Muslims to try and settle scores while shifting the blame elsewhere.
55-year-old Hasmad Ali’s body was found in Keirao Makating village, around 5 km from his house, in Manipur’s Imphal East district early on 2nd November.
Ali was allegedly beaten to death after he was seen with a calf that was missing from the shed of one of the villagers.
‘Highly Respectable Man’
A Muslim from any walk of life can be labelled as a thief in Manipur. And some people took advantage of that. We are a noble family. My father is a headmaster by profession. Our family’s monthly income is more than a lakh and half. How will he steal a cow?Riyaz Ali, Hasmad’s Elder Son
Social worker MI Khan who led the protest outside the police station demanded that the police arrest the culprits. He said that the headmaster was a highly respectable man and that the allegation of stealing a cow was part of the murder conspiracy.
Three thousand of us stand witness to Hasmad’s character. He was not a thief. He was not capable of theft.MI Khan, Social Activist
Tensions Prevail
The police has not made any progress other than arresting the owner of the cow for interrogation. The locals of Keirao Makating attacked Mohammad Amu’s house and razed it to the ground.
Angry residents, led by the Joint Action Committee formed over the killing, refuse to claim the body until the police bring the culprits to book.
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